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Punting On 4th-And-7 Was The Second Option

Lots of Bucs fans, not Joe, had issues with the Bucs attempting a 56 yard field goal on 4th-and-7 at the Falcons 38-yard line trailing by one point with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the game yesterday.

Joe’s read lots of comments — and heard the sports radio chatter — saying that the Bucs should have gone for the first down rather than kick.

Well, it turns out, going for it on fourth down was Greg Schiano’s third option, so the coach strongly implied on The Greg Schiano Show tonight on WDAE-AM 620.

Schiano was asked about the decision-making by a caller, and Schiano responded by only talking about the option to punt or kick the field goal on that play and then Schiano was finished with the caller. Host TJ Rives followed up by asking Schiano about whether he considered going for the first down.

“You know, what I try to do is look at all the options, so certainly it was considered, but (laughs) not for very long. I didn’t think that was one of the better ones,” Schiano said of potentially going for it on that fourth down.

This answer by Schiano was surprising, especially the little chuckle from the head coach at the idea of going for the first down.

Joe was all on board with the field goal attempt in that spot, but a punt from the 38 yard line? That would not have been playing to the Bucs’ strengths or playing to win. How punting could have been the second option ahead of Freeman dropping back to pass, Joe will never know.

Thankfully, that punt never happened and Joe was spared a Maalox moment.

18 Responses to “Punting On 4th-And-7 Was The Second Option”

56 yards with Barth at home!! Yes punting would be the second option in my book. Barth has been a little off this year, but I still like my chances with him Hell Bryant played on this field longer than Barth has been in the league and he missed 2. Both easy kicks.

Not sure about this one… Sure, hindsight is 20/20, but I think trying the FG was the third best option. Look at it this way, if you go for it and fail to convert, you’re in the exact same position you would be in after a missed FG attempt. If you convert, you kill more time and possibly score a touchdown. Is it easier to convert a 56 yd FG or get 7 yards? Debatable. But even if Barth makes it, Falcons still have 3 minutes and only need to get 3 points to win. In my opinion, there’s nothing beneficial about attempting that FG. Even if you punt it in that situation, you have one of the best punters in the league at pinning opponents inside the 20, and have 2 timeouts + 2 minute warning. I would rather take that chance than that 56 yd FG any day. Either way I would have rather seen the Bucs go for it or punt it rather thank attempt the FG.

Should have punted, first, went for it second, kicked a fg third, we gave them the ball on the 36 then the worst running team in NFC south runs twice for 26 yards putting them on our side of the field.

that’s a bit concerning….that Shiano had more faith in his swiss cheese, last in the league defense, as opposed to his star-studded top of the league offense.
As someone suggesested, even had we MADE the FG, Matt Ryan had over 3 minutes to get his team in FIELD GOAL POSITION TO WIN GAME. The ONLY chance IMO, was for us to convert on 4th and take time off clock to less than 30 seconds,and score TD. Anything less than a 4 point lead and we were going to LOSE.

I was very disappointed in the coaching and play calling in the second half. It felt like Greg Olson was back. At one point, Josh goes for the end zone three times in a row from over 30 yards out. Move the ball, and get the first downs before you shoot the moon. Very poor. Then, the three plays called after the Mike to Voncent moonshot to get in the endzone were predictable and lame. Where was a shot to Eric Lorig, or Dallas Clark, or Tiguan Underwood while the big two were being protected. Again, no creativity, and no aggression. And finally, with 4th and 6, and three minutes to go, I don’t think punting back to Matty Ice, or trying a 56 yard field goal are the correct call. The guy who got you there, and has gotten us there all season is Freeman. Give im the ball and send your recievers all out to get that 6 yards. That is the only way you win this game.

Option #1 should have been going for it. You go for it and make it with 3:00 left, you effectively run out the clock on the drive, kick the FG and take home the win.

Even if you successfully kicked the FG, you still give the Falcons over 3:00 left on the clock to drive a measley 50 yards (35 yard the way our kick coverage has been playing) and kick the game winner. I’ll take my chances with going for it. There’s a better than 50% chance we make it on 4th down but about 20% chance our defense somehow stops the Falcons from making a gamewinning drive.

always easier to evaluate these things in hindsight, but even a worst case scenario (touchback) from the punt sets the falcons back 25 yards from where they started that drive. that could have made a big difference in how the end of the game unfolded. or not. i’m much more frustrated about the things that were well within the team’s grasp that we did not make the most of…particularly the goal line stand